Bottle-washing apparatus



6 Sheets-.Sheet 1 Jan 6, 1931. l. R. HIPPENMEYER BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS Original Filed Jun'e 9, 1924 U egwffdyzj l. R. HIPPENMEYER BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS Jan 6, 1931.y

Original Filed June 9, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 wij,

Jan 6, 1931 l. HIPPIENMEYE-R 1,787,983

BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS Original Filed June 9t 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 if? y Jan s, 1931. i. R. HIPPENMEYER y 1,787,983

BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS Original Filed June 9, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jam 6, Q, L R, HHPPENMEYER 1,787,983

BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS Original Filed June 9. 1924 6 sheets-sheet 5 jm 59 WSL a. R. HIPPENMEYER 1,787,983

BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUSk Original Filed June 9, 1924 6 sheets-sheet e Qloin.. @9

RVJENG Et. HIPPENMEYER, @F WAUEESHA, WISCONSIN, SSIQNRJO TEE CREAMEEY PACKAGE MFG. CQJMIM @E CHQGG, ILLNOIS, A CORPEEEON' OF ILLNOIS @riginal appleston ledl Enne @y 3.3%. Serial No.. lh mvisiei ane this application leci tlcteberw;

` wh?, Serial No. 225,.

ic to provide o machine in which bottles entomziticcily progress through e series ot coinpartments wherein they ere subjected) to o successiono cleansing treetnient applications and' with which is incorporated. automatic 15 synchronously operating devices for introducing the bottles into the treating compare' ments and for receiving the cieeinsed hotties therefrom, enel which' devices ere eo'iepteol for co-operetion with continuous conveyors 2c for hancliing the hotties enel from the machine.

@ther objects end sciventoges tviil he so perent in the ioilowing oletoiieri ldescription ortu o. preferred embodiment oi the invention which Ti have selectecl for iliustrntion in the accompanying drawings. Et willi he encierstood7 however9 that various chsnges in torni, construction arrangement mei] he mooie by those skilleci in. the srt without departing from the spirit enel scope of the invention es expressed in the appended chinos.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure i is o sicle eievstion of the mochine.

Fig. Q is e :iront enoi elevotion.

Fig. 3 is e roer enel elevation shmvingg the hottie receiving clevice pertieily in section.

i s, side elevetion of the front enoi portion of the nmchine with n portion ot' its outer Weli broken evier. to illustrate the internel conveying ineens.`

Fig. 5 is o trectionel side eievotion oi e portion ot the reer enti ot the mochine showingportions thereof in vertical section.

Fig. o is e detailed pionvietv oi the hottie 5 introducing device.,

' Fig. is o sectionoi deteii ot" n portion of the letter.

Fig. 8 is o, detailed pien vieni ot the hottie receiving device et the :veer end oi the rnechine.

'viole9 tiret, o succession of soest of compartments., Each compartment houses e. Wheel, the several Wheels being mounted on e common shaft enti rotatable in synchronism. Groups of bottle retaining pockets ere cerrieol by each of the Wheels, the Jpockets of each group being errengefi in substantially reiel formation enel inclined to the piene ot rotetion of the Wheels. An elineoi seriesof openings through the partitions hetween the severei compartments 1provides tor the passage of the hotties from the pockets ci one Wheel. to those oi the next succeeding Wheel9 es the pockets move into register `with the openings.

" ont the is provided At the tirent eno device for recei ving` the hotties from e continnous conveyor. he device heing operable to elevate the het s i groups corresponding to the i@schets tiineo seogtnence. through the openings provided in the enel, Weii oi the tenir. into the snccessive groups of pockets moving pest the openings, The hotties so positioned. in the pockets of the iirst Wheel ere cerrie through one revolution the Wheei, closing which movement they ere passed through e hath of cieensing solution contained; in the lower portion on? the tenir. endl drained during their movement through the upper ero of the revolotion of the wheei. As the hotties successively reach the openings' tion, the inciinec? causes t to s openings into vvheei in the second compartiment.

position el. the pockets e gravity through the The secon. Wheei. erries there through :toil revoit".- tion en( sirops them in iilte manner int the thiro i neel7 enel so on through the machine.

compartments ere srrnn'eo to pro- H' ig heths in clesi'ising soiutiongthen e rinsing spray haths 'ioliovveii hy n steriiizing hath of live steam. The succeeding compartments ere provided the iirst pertie registering pockets of thel eeis siide them in with cooling sprays of progressively lowered temperature which gradually cool the bottles to the desired finishing temperature.

At the rear end of the machine is a receiving device into which the groups of bottles are dropped through the openings in the end wall of the machine,land by which they are lowered into upright position upon a belt conveyor arranged to conduct the bottles to the filling machines.

The specific structure and function of the treating compartments being fuly described in my copending application above referred to the further detaileddescription of that part of the machine will 'not be set forth herein eircept` as may be necessary to fully describe the subject matter of this divisional application.

A horizontal shaft 27 is positioned axially of the several treating compartments and provided with suitable bearings mounted on the end walls of the tank structure as indicated at 28 in Fig. 3. In each compartment is a wheel 29 mounted on the shaft 27, the wheels being keyed or otherwise rigidly secured thereto and spaced one from the other by suitable spacer sleeves 30, assuring the positioning of the wheels for. free rotation etween the walls of the several compartments. l The wheels are preferably of spoke construction, the outer ends of the spokes carrying concentric fianges 3l.

Each of the wheels 29 carries a series of radially positioned groups of open-end bottle pockets. As illustrated herein, each group l comprises four bottle pockets 32 secured laterally to each other and supported inwardly by a pair of annular bands 33 fastened to the iangesSl and to the inner one of each group of pockets, and outwardly supported by a pair of annular binding bands 34, (Fig. 4) to which the outer one of each group o'f pockets is secured, the whole comprising a rigid structure rotatable by the ,shaft 27. The pockets are positioned with `their longitudinal axes in substantially concentric relation to the axis of the shaft, but angularly inclined to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. The pockets are preferably provided with a plurality of lateral openings 35 permitting access to the bottles contained in the pockets for the soaking solution and spray baths by which the bottles are treated in their progress through the machine;

The upper portion l of the front end wall is provided with a horizontally arranged series of openings 36, with which the passing retainer pockets 32 on the first wheel successi vely register in their movement around the iirst compartment. Similar' openings 37 are formed in each of the partition walls 5 and in the rear end wall 3, all of the openings 37 being horizontally alined with the openings 36 in the front end wall. By means hereinafter described, groups of tour botlower ends pass successively into register with the opening 37.

Mounted on the frontward side ofeach partition wall and the rear end wall are concentric series of abutment plates 38 positioned respectively opposite the rear ends of the pockets 32,- and preferably spaced from the walls by cushioning members 39. The abut ment plates are so ositioned that when the bottles are admitte to the pockets they slide through into Contact with the abutment plates,` and the resilient support of the latter Iprevents chipping of the mouths of the botties. They also serve the function in their Contact with the corners of the angularly positioned bottles, to rotate the latter in the pockets and facilitatethe free application of the washing solution and spray to all portions of the bottles.

`While thus retained in the/'pockets the bottles are carried downward and subjected to the treatment provided in that compartment and then upward and through the upper arc of revolution of the wheel 29. As the bottles reach theopenings 37 in the first partition wall they slide through into the retaining pockets 32 carried by the supporting wheel in the secondv compartment, the pockets in the second compartment being so positioned on their support that their upper ends will be in register with the openings 37 in synchronis-m with the lower ends of the retaining pockets of the wheel in the first compartment. lpartment the bottles progress simiiarly into the third and other successive compartments of the machine.

rThe rotation of the shaft 27, with the bottle carrying wheels supported thereon, is accomplished as illustrated herein, by a worm After treatment in the second comwheel 52 mounted on the front end of the I 60 being driven by a pinion 61, mounted on a shaft 62 having its bearing in the bracket 59 and carrying at its opposite end a sprocket 63. An electric motor 64, suitably mounted on a brackdt 65 secured to the end wall of the tank, supplies power through the chain 66, to the sprocket 63.

The bottlesare introduced into the irst soaking tank by means of a feeding device located at the front end of the machine and adapted to take the bottles from a belt conveyor, elevate them in groups of four, and intermittently slide them through the openings 36 in the front end wall, synchronously with the successive passing of the groups of bottle pockets 32. The feeding device comprises a shaft 67, journalled at its inner end in a bearing 68, preferably formed on the worm gear casing 53. lThe outer end of the shaft is supported in a .bearing 69, carried by the bracket 70, secured to the lower portion 2 of the front end wall. A pair of sprockets 71, secured on the shaft 67 intermediate of its bearings, carry respectively a pair of .sprocket chains 72. Thesprocket chains 72 are supported at the lower ends of their runs on a pair of sprockets 73, mounted on a shaft 74, journalled in the arms of a bearing yoke 75, pivotally supported on a bracket 76, secured to the end wall 2. rlhe yoke 75 is arranged to be swung on its pivotal support to `take-up any slack developing in the chains 72, and is adjustably positioned by means of a set screw 77, bearing on the upper side of the yokeand supported in a rigid exten-` sion of the bracket 76.

The shaft 67 carries a rigidly mounted gear 78, adjacent its inner bearing 68, which is in driven engagement with a gear 79 mounted on the extended end of the worm Ishaft 55, thereb receiving power from the motor 64 for t e operation of the chains.

'The chains 72 are provided at spaced intervals with cross connected elevating members 80. Each of the latter is arranged to receive and support a group of four bottles taken' y ..tructed with a bottom supporting plate and with an upright curved lateral support forming four pockets for the reception of the bottles, the lateral support having verti cal slots 82 positioned centrally of the revspective pockets. As the bottles are propelled into the pockets on the members 80, they are elevated by means 4of the chains 72, and pass over the upper sprockets 71, wherehy they are turned rearwardly downward :it a sufficient angle for the bottles to slide by gravity from the members 80 onto a guide member 83, having four channels adapted to receive the bottles and direct them through the openings 36 into the rotating pockets in the first soaking compartment.

'the path of the elevating members 80,

To assure the sufficient under-support of the bottles to avoid their tippling back upon the elevating members 80,.t e guide member 83 is provided with extended tongues 84, positioned centrally of each of the channels in the guide member and protruding into passing through the slots 82 in the latter as the elevating members are carried over the up-` per sprockets. The guide member 83 is supported at its inner edge upon a flange 85 mounted on lthe end wall of the tank, and may be adjusted in relation to the openings 36 by means of a pair of set screws positioned l in the lateral lugs 86 carried by the member 83, the set screws. bearing upon the flange 85. The guide-member 83 is outwardly supported by Vmeans of a pair of brackets 87, positioned laterally of the member 83 in4 91, having driven connecion through the chain 92 with a sprocket 93 mounted on `the outer end of the shaft 74.

Associatedwith the conveyor is a stationary receiving plate 94, positioned on the same plane with the conveying run of the conveyor belt and secured to a pair of lateral guide members 95'supported on the stand ards 90. The edge of the receiving plate 94 facing the elevating device is provided with a series of spaced tongues 96, which protrude into the path of the bott-le elevating members 80, in the bottom plates of which latter are provided slots 97 through which the tongues 96 pass in the movement of the elevating members. The bottles are vpropelled by the conveyor belt 81 across the receiving plate 9 4, and over the tongue portions 96 into position for engagement by the elevating members as they are carried upward on their supporting chains.

The bottles are advanced in time with the passage of the respective bottle elevating members by means of a reciprocating stop mechanism, which operates to normally hold back the bottles and release them in groups of four for advancement into position for engagement by the elevating members. The stop mechanism comprises a pair of stub shafts 98 secured in a pair of brackets 99 mounted on the respective guide members 95, each stub shaft carrying a centrally pivoted lever 100. A cross bar 101 is secured to the front ends of the two levers 100, the bar extending beneath the plate 94 and having upwardly projecting prongs 102 oper- 1 able through apertures in the plate 94 into Y the path of the bottles passing over the latter. The prongs 102 are normally maintained in upper position by means of a pair` of springs 103 secured to the plate 94 and attached -to the respective levers 100. Intermediate spaced guides 104, secured to the plate 94 and extending over the conveyor belt 81, are preferably provided to divide the r'pace between the lateral guides 95 into four runways leading to the elevating device. A pair 'of the prongs 102' are positioned in each runway.

Mounted on the opposite ends respectively of the levers 100, are a pair of pivoted rollers 105 positioned forengagement respectively by a pair ofk cams 106, rigidly mounted on the lower chain supporting sprockets 73., The prongs 102 normally extend throughpthe receiving plate 94 and revent the advancement of the bottles by tie conveyor through the runways. As each of the bottle elevating members pass around the lower sprockets and approach the receiving plate 94 on their upward run, the cams 106 engage the rollers 105, swinging the levers and bar 101 into position to withdraw the prongs 102 from above the receiving plate, and permit the advancement of one bottle in each of the four runways, whereupon the rollers 105 are released from the cam and the prongs raised again in the path of the succeeding bottles to prevent their further advancement until the approach of the next bottle elevating member. The feeding device just described accomplishes the wholly automatic feeding of the bottles into the machine from the continu'- ous conveying belt, timing the delivery of the bottles to the passage of the successive groups of pockets 32 in the first soaking tank.

A receiving device is provided at the rearv end of the machine to receive the bottles from the final cooling compartment and deliver them in upright position upon a continuous conveyor for carrying the bottles to a filling machine. The receiving device comprises a shaft 107, having end bearings respectively in the brackets 108 and 109, secured to the rear end wall of the machine.-

Rigidly supported on the shaft 107 is -a hub member 110 to which are secured radially arranged pocket forming plates 111, which operate with the rotation of the shaft to successively present their open ends before theopenings 37 in the rear end wall of the machine, in position to receive the successive groups of bottles as they are discharged from the final cooling compartment.

A cushion 112 mounted on the hub 110 at the inner end of each of the receiving pockets may be provided to prevent chipping of the bottles as they slide into the pockets and abut the hub member.

The bottles are retained in the radial pockets during the rotation of the latter, by means of a concentric late 113, positioned outward of the path of he ends of the pocket walls 111 and supported by end plates 114 secured to the end wall of the tank. `Parti tion plates 115 are also provided, which .form individual runways for the bottles of preferably havingside guide members attached thereto. The conveyor belt 117 is -operatively supported upon a roller 121 mounted on a shaft 122, having its supporting bearing in a bracket 123 mounted o`n the end wall 4. The conveyor 117 travels beneath the pockets in the direction of the axis of the shaft 107, and operates to remove the bottles laterally from the pockets Vwhen they are lowered intoI position over the conveyor.

The bottle receiving'device is operated by means of a shaft 124 extending longitudinally of the machine and supported at its front end in a bearing formed in an extension of the bracket 70, mounted on the front end wall of the machine.

A spiral gear 125 rigidly mounted at the 'front end of the shaft 124 is in driven engagement with a spiral gear 126 secured on the outer end of the' drive` shaft 67, in the bottle feeding device. The rear end of the shaft 124 1s supported in a bearing 127, carried by a lateral extension of the bracket 109. A spiral gpar 128 rigidly mounted on the rear end oft e shaft 124, engages a spiral gear 129 mounted on a stub shaft 130, having its bearing 131 1n an upward extension of the bracket 109.

The intermittent movement of the receiving pockets carried by the shaft 107, is effected means of the star shaped member 132 rig- 1 ly mounted on the outer end of the shaft 107 and having radially arranged lateral slots 133. The member 132 is intermittently moved through a portion of a revolution by means 'of a roller 134, pivoted on the leverA arm 135, rigidly mounted on the stub shaft and engaging successively the slots 133 in the rotation of the stub shaft 130. The intermediate positions of rest of the star member 132 aremaintained by means of the arcuately recessed cam 136, carried by the shaft 130. The normal circular periphery of the cam 136 engages the concentrically recessed periphery of the star wheel 132. except during the engagement therewith of the roller 134, when the cam recess is in position for the passage therethrough of the adjacent arm of the star wheel. By this means the radial memes pockets formed by the `Walls 111 are successively presented tothe discharge openings 37 in the endwall in time to receive the bottles therefrom, as, they slide out of the respective pockets inthe final cooling compartment, and are then swung downwardly into upright position upon the conveyor belt 117.

The conveyor belt 117 is operated by means of the sprocket 137- mounted on the roller supportingshar't 122 and in driven connection throughthe chain 138 with a sprocket`139 mounted on the shaft 124i. The speed of the conveyor belt 117 is so arranged-that the bot tles will be removed from the radialpockets during the period of rest of the latter.

As the bottles are lowered in the radial pockets and deposited on the conveyorbelt 117 there is a tendency to upset the bottles in their irst contact with the conveyor. The

bottles are prevented from being so upsetv by means of a series of movable Wings 14:0

the Walls of the radialpockets, the Wings being swung into position between the several bottles across the conveyor belt at the moment the bottles are deposited on the conveyor', and immediately thereafter Withdrawn.

The Wings 14C() are each su ported on a shaft 1111 having suitable earings 142 mounted on the outer guide rail 120 of the conveyor. Vlfhe shaft 1911 carries a rocker arm 14:3 rigidly secured thereto, to the free end of which isv pivotally connected. a bar 14A, extending upwardly and having a longitudinally slotted end portion embracing the extended end of the shaiit4 1211. pivoted roller 145 is mounted on the bar leid above the slot adapted for engagement by a jfalling laterally. y

Due to the shape of the standard mill;

bottle with its larger lovver diameter forining a shoulder, it is desirable to provide for' the release or the bottles tor passage from one compartment to another in such time that they will slide freely through the openings in the partition Walls Without engagement of their shoulders with the margins of those openings. To accomplish this end there is' provided over each oi'i the openings for the passage of the bottles a bar 147 (see Fig. 10) pivoted to the partition Wall at its inner end and extending through the lateral Walk ci the respective compartments. 'lbe outer ends of the respective bars eX- tend over the shaft 12d vvhere they are operatively engaged by cams 14:8, mounted on the shaft 12d. Each oi the bars 1 17is provided vvith a curved lip 1fi9,extending dovvnvvardly over a portion ci `che openings 37.

As the bottles approach the opening 37 they slide from engagement withv the retaining bars 38 into engagement with the curved lips 149 on the bars 147 with the eect that they lare moved slightly inward and retained in the pockets until the have passed suciently'by the margins o the openings as not to be engaged thereby when released. The

spaced bottle carriers adapted to laterally l.

receive and elevate bottles, an endless belt adaptedto convey bottles to said elevating conveyor, a stationary plate positioned Ain extension of the operative run of said conveyor and adjacent to the path of said bottle carriersJ a lever pivotally mounted beneath said plate, a plurality of prongs operatively supported by said lever and protruding upward through openings in said plate, a sprocket operatively engaged with said elevating conveyor, and a. cam rigidi related tol said sprocket, said cam being a .apted to engage said lever and operatively withdraw said prongs beneath said plate coincidently with the approach oi said bottle carriers successively to said plate.

2. in a machine of the ciass described, unloading mechanism for a' Wheel revoiubly mounted in a casing 'adjacent an endvvell thereof, said wheel having a plurality oi inclined pockets, said Wall nbrrnaily retaining the bottles in said pockets and having an opening i'or the passage of the bottles thereu from outwardly from said-casing, comprising a revolubly mounted member having radiaily extending chambers with outwar ily open ends, said member being intermittently operable to successively present said chambers in register with said openings coinci dently with the successive passing in register therewith of said pockets, said chambers heing adapted to receive 'the bottles discharged troni said pockets, an arcuate retaining Wall positioned concentrically to said revoluble member adapted to retain the bottles in said chambers until swung into upright position by the rotation of said member, and a conveyor positioned to receive the bottles from said chambers. v

l in a machine of the class described, having a tank and a Wheel revolubly mounted therein having a plurality of inclined poci ets adapted to convey bottles to be vvashech.

ller.

lim

groups, in combination, a continuously oper- .atingconveyor, a revoluble member mounted outwardly of said wall having a plurality of bottle receiving chambers, said member being intermittently operable to move said chambers successively into position to receive the groups of bottles discharged through said opening coincidently with the successive passage of said pockets into register with said opening, said member eiecting the swinging of said bottles into upright position upon said conveyor, and a plurality of spaced Wings normally removed from said conveyor and intermittently operable into position between said bottles over said conveyor coincident with the deposit of the bottles thereu on.

p4. In a machine of the class described, having a tank with an opening in an end Wall thereof, and having means within said tank for intermittently discharging bottles in groups through said opening, in combination, a revoluble member mounted outwardly of said wall having a plurality of bottle receiving chambers, said chambers being endwardly and laterally open, a conveyor positioned beneath said member, means for intermittently operating said member to move said chambers successively into position to receive the groups of bottles discharged from said opening and move them downwardly for deposit uponsaid conveyor, means for retaining the botles in said chambers while being moved from said opening to said con- Veyor, and a plurality of spaced wings operatively mounted adjacent said conveyor, said wings being operable into position over said conveyor for the lateral support of said bottles coincident with their deposit on said conveyor and immediately withdrawable Atherefrom to permit the movement of said bottleslaterall from said chambers.

5. In a mac ine of the class described, in combination, a` conveyor belt positioned for operation in substantially vertical direction, a bottle carrier mounted on said belt having lateral and bottom walls adapted to support a bottle received therein, said lateral and bottom walls respectively having outwardly opening slots formed therein, a stationary plate positioned adjacent the lower end of the upward path of travel of said carrier and having a tongue-extended therefrom in osition for register with said slot in the bottom wall of said carrier, said plate and tongue being adapted to support a bottle to be received by said carrier in its passage thereby, and a slide positioned adjacent the upper end of the downward path of travel or" said carrier and having a tongue extending therefrom in position for register with said slot in the lateral wall of said carrier, said slide and tongue being adapted to receive a bottle from said carrier in its passage thereby.

6. In a machine of the class described, in 

